Special wellhead



April 1950 c. A. HUMASON 2,504,025

SPECIAL WELLHEAD Filed Jan. 25, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Hl/ GMAlV/LLE A nwgy Patented Apr. 11, 1950 UNIT ED TAT E S PATBE N T OFF-ICE 2,504,025 SPECIAL WELLIEIEAD Granville 'A. Humaso'n, Houston, Tex. Application January 25, 1945, Serial No. 5 l 1,494

(o1. lee-=14) This invention relates to a wen head, and mor particularly to a novel well head 'assernbly th'at may 'be' quickly installed and used for controlling of flowing of a 'well. I I

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device or the type indicated; 'which can be quickly 'iristalled and 'lis'ed for flowing 'a 'Well.

Another object is to provide a well head ineluding a, hanger whichco'operates with a "rnanu ally operable hold-down ring whereby installa tion or removal is facilitated and a fluid tight seal is insured. 7

Another object is to provide a well head assembly which includes an inflatable packer or seal member between the assembly and the casing head. v y

A still further object is to provide a well head which includes a nova valve structure for controlling the flowing or fluids from the tubing stringin the wen.

The foregoing are primary objects which, toget her with additional objects and advantages will be more fully apparent from the following description tak'eh in connection with the accompanying drawin s in which:

Fig. l is an elvati o'nal'viw partly in section, showing a well head embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is an elevation view similar to that shown in Fig. 1, but showing the hanger assembly in position above the casing head bowl in which the assembly is used.

In the drawings, the numeral I indicates the surface of the earth from which the casing 2 protrudes and has the casing head 3 attached thereto.

The casing head 3 has side openings therein such as 4, 5, and 6 which may be provided with any suitable valves as indicated at 1, 8, and 9 (Fig. 3). The bore ID of the casing head is enlarged in its upper portion at H thus forming a seat l2 intermediate the side openings 4 and 5. This enlarged portion of the bore is tapered at l3 whereby the bore I0 is still further enlarged at its upper end to serve a purpose that will be more fully described.

The outer surface of the head 3 has a peripheral groove near its upper end to receive a complementary inner projection on a hold-down ring it which may be manually rotated relative to the casing head by manual application of force to the ears H.

A closure assembly (Fig. 3) comprises an element of the construction of the Well head and is l'oweredto the positior'i just indicated, t down ring 16 will be positioned th'atthe slots 3'! an angle, so that the ear's 32' annular recess 2? in the tapere silr'f'a" Above the seal ring 2'6t1'ie' hafigen25 is with a segmented flange which forms lug adapted to "enter aili'al slots 3| F ig. 2'} in the nw'ardly flanged upper end of the hold doivn 'ring "I 6.

'It seems apparent that when the as'se'iribly holdth'erein receive-the lugs 30 on the hanger where-- by the latter may be seated *upon the tapered surface l3 onjtl'ie casin'g head or bowl 3. The ring is may then be "manually rotated through "rlie th'e'lugs 3!) he'd "from vertical and the hangeris thus restrai movement.

'In order that the connection between the hanger 25 and the bowl 3 shall be tight, and that the hold-down ring [6 shall be locked in the desired position, a lockscrew 33 is provided in each of the ears 32. This interlocking of elements may be effected by means of a hand Wrench, the only tool necessary to secure the assembly 20 within the casing head 3.

The inter-connection of the hanger 25 and the tool joint or coupling 24 is a tubular extension 40 which is grooved at 4| at its upper end to receive an inwardly extending flange on a packer ring 42. The packer of which this ring forms a part includes an expansible ring or sleeve 43 and a lower packer ring 45 which normally engages the seat i2 within the casing head 3 and also engages a shoulder 46 on the tubular extension 40. It is intended that the opening 44 for the admission of pressure fluid to the interior of the packer sleeve 43 shall be in mating relation with an annular groove 41 which communicates with the passage or opening 5. g

It seems apparent that when the parts are in assembled position as just indicated, pressure may be applied to the interior of the expansible packer ring or sleeve 43 whereby a high pressure seal is provided between the assembly 20 and the casing head 3.

The flow of fluids through the tubing 23 and the assembly 20 is controlled at the upper end of the head by a valve 50 of which the valve body is threaded into the hanger 25 at A transverse tapered passage within the body receives a tapered valve plug 52, a gasket seal being provided between the plug and the body at 53 and 54.

The plug 52 has a threaded portion at its smaller end to receive a plug 55 having a flange 56 which overlies the outer end of a boss 51 on the body 50. An annular cap 58 is threaded upon the boss 51 and overlies the flange 56 on the plug 55 so that the plug may be rotated but is restrained from axial movement.

The operation of the well head of the invention is believed apparent from the foregoing description. By way of summary it will be assumed that closure of a Well is to be effected. As is customary, the casing head 3 was previously installed upon the casing 2 when the casing was set. Connection is made through the tool joint or the coupling 24 between the member 40 and the tubing 23. The resulting assembly is then lowered until the hanger 25 seats within the bowl at the top of the casing head 3. During the lowering of the assembly 20 the lugs 30 enter the slot 3| in the hold-down ring is and the ring may then be rotated manually so that the ears 32 overlie the lugs 30. The screws 33 are then tightened to complete the connection. To further effectuate sealing against high pressures such as are encountered in many wells, fluid under pressure is supplied through the valve 8 and passage 5 to the interior of the packer sleeve 43.

It is assumed that the valve 50 is closed during. the installation operation and accordingly the well is completely enclosed after a seal between the assembly 20 and the casing head 3 has been effected. If it is then desired to admit or withdraw fluid through the well head, the plug 55 is rotated to effect axial movement of the valve plug 52 whereby the wedging action of the valve plug within its seat is broken. The valve may then be easily rotated to open the passage therethrough whereupon the plug 55 is tightened to again seal the valve plug 52 within its tapered seating surface.

Broadly the invention comprehends a well head 4 that may be quickly installed or removed and one that will efllciently provide effective closure of a well.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a well head, a tubular bowl having a passage in the side thereof, an internal annular groove in said bowl communcating with said passage, a hanger adapted to :be seated in the upper end of said bowl, a seal between said hanger and said bowl, a downward extension on said hanger for connection to a tubing string, an inflatable seal ring interposed between said bowl and said extension, said seal ring having an opening proximate said groove when the hanger is seated within the bowl whereby pressure fluid is admitted to the seal ring from said passage.

2. A well head comprising, a tubular bowl hav ing a passage in the side thereof, an internal circumferentially extending groove in said bowl communicating with said passage, a seat in the bowl below said passage, a hanger adapted to be seated in the upper end of said bowl and having a downward extension thereon, an inflatable seal ring interposed between said bowl and extension and intermediate said hanger and seat, said seal ring having an opening communicating with said groove when the hanger is seated wthin the bowl whereby pressure fluid is admitted to the seal ring from said passage.

GRANVILLE A. HUMASON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,211,392 Bolton Jan. 9, 1917 1,502,106 Lyne July 22, 1924 1,721,877 Feldmeirer et a1 July 23, 1929 1,790,384 Lincoln Jan. 27, 1931 1,836,470 Humason et al Dec. 15, 1931 1,983,938 Humason et a1 Dec. 11, 1934 1,997,731 Humason Apr. 16, 1935 2,035,925 Seamark Mar. 31, 1936 2,075,899 Humason Apr. 6, 1937 

